The Barber of Seville | Scottish Opera

Rossini

The Barber of Seville

Revival of the 2007 production

Theatre Royal Glasgow:
17, 20, 25 & 28 October 2023, 7.15pm
22 October 2023, 3pm (Matinee)

Eden Court, Inverness:
16 & 18 November 2023, 7.15pm

Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
3, 8 & 11 November 2023, 7.15pm
5 November 2023, 3pm (Matinee)

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen:
23 & 25 November 2023, 7.15pm

‘a triumph in all its musical and theatrical detail’
★★★★★ - The Herald

Back by popular demand, Sir Thomas Allen (The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni) creates a riotous production of Rossini’s beloved comedy. The action centres around Figaro, one of opera’s most delightful characters and perhaps the only voice of reason in a world of young love and ageing folly. When Count Almaviva sets his sights on the beautiful Rosina, he enlists Figaro – barber, fixer, and all-round man of action – to help woo her. It is no easy feat: Rosina’s guardian Doctor Bartolo keeps her under lock and key with the intention of marrying her himself!

The multiplying disguises, comic hijinks, and daring escapes engineered by Figaro are enhanced by Simon Higlett’s enchanting designs, bright with Spanish colours. This revival is sung in English in a translation by Amanda Holden (Falstaff 2021) for a fresh and immediate spin on Rossini’s larger-than-life characters and antics.

With Rossini’s signature toe-tapping ensembles, high-speed patter, and lively coloratura arias, this bel canto masterpiece is a joyful theatrical experience packing in one comic scene after another. Here, Scottish Opera unites Samuel Dale Johnson (Eugene Onegin and Pagliacci 2018) as the titular barber, with Anthony Gregory (Anthropocene 2019) and Simone McIntosh (in her Scottish Opera debut) as the young lovers. Rounding out the other side of the scheming are David Stout (Nixon in China 2020) and John Molloy (A Midsummer Night's Dream 2022).

Kindly supported by The Scottish Opera Syndicate
Part of Scottish Opera's 2023/24 season

Show Details

Running time:
Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.

Language:
Sung in English with English supertitles.
Translation by Amanda Holden.

Ticket price:
From £21.50 to £98 – prices vary by venue

Concessions:
£15 tickets for Under 26s >>
Concessions vary by venue

Read more about Audio Description & Touch Tours

Audio Describers 2016 credit Tim Morozzo (1).jpg

Audio Description & Touch Tours

Designed for those with a visual impairment, our audio-described performances feature a live commentary describing what’s happening on stage without compromising the music. Touch Tours also available.

Read more about Access Opera Performances

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Access Opera Performances

Whether you’re living with dementia, Long COVID or would simply benefit from a more relaxed atmosphere, you can enjoy everything opera has to offer at our shortened Access Opera performances.

Venue information

Find out more about box office opening hours, travel information and access within the building in all venues.

What the press said

★★★★★ The Herald

‘a triumph in all its musical and theatrical detail - a superb introduction to opera for the uninitiated, as well as a delight for those whole love the artform’
‘every witty line and bold rhyme is delivered for maximum comic effect, phrased and timed to perfection’

★★★★ Bachtrack

‘sparkle(s) with fun.'
‘...truly delightfully sung opera buffa, brilliantly directed and packed with fun'

VoxCarnyx

‘operatic comedy at its best, literally laugh-a-minute'

★★★★ The Scotsman

'here is a cast fully immersed in the frivolous folly and foibles of their comedic characters... a symbiosis of music and theatre coming straight from the gut.’
‘fun-filled, all-action revival of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. A refreshed production by Sir Thomas Allen goes all out for belly laughs.’
‘Expect an exhilarating run.’

The National

‘spectacularly good fun, executed with perfect pace and theatrical dexterity.’

Edinburgh Music Review

‘a superb production... comic opera at its very best.’

Cast & Creatives

Figaro
Samuel Dale Johnson

Rosina
Simone McIntosh

Count Almaviva
Anthony Gregory

Doctor Bartolo
David Stout

Don Basilio
John Molloy

Berta
Inna Husieva*
*2023/24 Emerging Artist

Ambrogio
Paul Anwyl

Fiorello
Ross Cumming*
*2023/24 Emerging Artist

Conductor
Stuart Stratford

Director
Sir Thomas Allen

Designer
Simon Higlett

Lighting Designer
Mark Jonathan

Assistant Conductor
Susannah Wapshott

Assistant Director
Mark Burns

Assistant Lighting Designer
Callum Macdonald

Repetiteur
Fiona MacSherry

Stilt Consultant
Mike Rowan

Watch the trailer for The Barber of Seville 2023

Walking Tall: Singing and Juggling on Stilts on Stage

On Stage

The cast of The Barber of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

Simone McIntosh (Rosina) in The Barber of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva) in The Barber of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

The cast of The Barber of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023

David Stout (Doctor Bartolo) and Samuel Dale Johnson (Figaro) in The Barber of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva) and David Stout (Doctor Bartolo) in The Barber of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

The Cast Of The Barber Of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

David Stout (Doctor Bartolo) And John Molloy (Don Basilio) In The Barber Of Seville. Credit James Glossop

Simone Mcintosh (Rosina), Samuel Dale Johnson (Figaro) And Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva) In The Barber Of Seville. Credit James Glossop

David Stout (Doctor Bartolo) And Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva) In The Barber Of Seville. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop

Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva) And Ross Cumming (Fiorello) In The Barber Of Seville. Credit James Glossop

In Rehearsal

The cast of The Barber of Seville during rehearsals. Credit Julie Howden.

The Barber of Seville director, Sir Thomas Allen, during rehearsals with Samuel Dale Johnson (Figaro). Credit Julie Howden.

Simone McIntosh (Rosina), Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva), and Samuel Dale Johnson (Figaro) during The Barber of Seville rehearsals. Credit Julie Howden

Scottish Opera Emerging Artist, Inna Husieva (Berta), in rehearsals for The Barber of Seville. Credit Julie Howden.

Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Inna Husieva (Berta) and Simone McIntosh (Rosina) in The Barber of Seville rehearsals. Credit Julie Howden.

Scottish Opera Emerging Artists Ross Cumming (Fiorello), Anthony Gregory (Count Almaviva) and Samuel Dale Johnson (Figaro). Credit Julie Howden.

Audio-described Performances

Mention opera and most people think of singing and music – but this is only part of the overall experience. What about scenery, costumes, lighting, direction and choreography?

For those with a visual impairment, our audio description service provides a live commentary during the show, relating the action on stage without compromising the music. As part of the experience, a recorded introduction to the opera is available in advance, as well as a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.

Patrons with a visual impairment can also book onto a free touch tour – an opportunity to go backstage and become more familiar with the set, scenery, props and costumes.

Please book in advance for audio-described performances and touch tours by calling the venue box offices:

Theatre Royal Glasgow:
28 October 2023, 7.15pm

Contact

Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
11 November 2023, 7.15pm

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Eden Court, Inverness:
18 November 2023, 7.15pm

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His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen:
25 November 2023, 7.15pm

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Find out more about our Audio Description and Touch Tour services>>